Stapling machine



Oct- 1 4 D. LAWRENCE STAPLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D ec. 30, 195'! Oct. 1, 1940. D EN E 2,216,474

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1957 2 Shets-Sheet 2 MEI:

I fiie11701 Znamzdfilhzirewe Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics STAPLING MACHINE Leonard D. Lawrence, North Kingstown, R. I., asa signor to Boston Wire Stitcher Company, Warwick, It. I., a corporation of Maine Application December 30, 1937, Serial No. 182,464

7 Claims.

This invention relates to wire-stitching machines or staple-applying implements adapted for use in attaching sheets of paper, stitching or stapling tags, labels and the like to articles of commerce and for applying staples to other objects whatever their use. The present invention is concerned particularly with imp-rovements in the means for mounting the stapleapplying means to adapt it for adjustment with respect to its support whereby to accurately aline the staple-applying mechanism with the clinching means.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine or implement of the type indicated having adjustable abutments engageable with the opposite sides of the mounting for the stapling arm to regulate the position of the staple-applying mechanism with respect to the clinching means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated having taper-ended screws engageable with the opposite sides of the pivot-mounting for the arm carrying the staple-applying means to adjust the arm with respect to the pivot-mounting.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated having abutments movable longitudinally of the stapling arm at opposite sides of the pivot-means to .adjust the arm with respect to thepivot-means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjusting means of the type indicated of relatively simple and compact construction and adapted to be easily and quickly manipulated to effect adjustment of the staple-applying mechanism on the arm relative to the clinching means on the base.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes two forms of construction of the adjusting means, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is av side elevational view of a stapleapplying implement shown partly in section and illustrating the adjustable abutments in the form of taper-ended set-screws engageable with the pivot-pin at opposite sides thereof;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of a portion of the implement illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the adjusting screws extending through the core of the stapling arm;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the slidable connection of the stapling arm with the pivot-pin and the adjusting screws engagingthe opposite sides. of the pivot-pin to clamp the arm in adjusted position narrow core for supporting the staples and incorporating a modified form of adjusting means extending longitudinally of thearm;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal part-sectional view on line 55 of Fig. f1 showing the longitudinally-movab-le'abutments at opposite sides of the pivot-pin for clamping the arm in adjusted position on the pin; 'and I Fig. 6 is afisectional plan view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the taper-ended screw for moving the forward abutment-longitudinally of the arm and the rearw'ar'd'sc'rew forming the other longitudinally-extending abutment. I

The present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings as applied to a machine of the type shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,815,066, issued July 21, 19-31, to Arthur H. Maynard. It is to-' be understood, however, that the invention is adapted for use with other types of stapling implements and. with wire-stitching machines having cooperating staple-applying and clinching means. Suffice it to state that the present type of implement comprises a base 2 and a stapling arm 3 pivotally mount'ed on the base. The base 2 has clinching meansd at its forward end and spaced stan-chions or upright ears 5 at its rearward end. The stapling arm 3 is usually in the formof a magazine having a core 6 for holding a supply of preformed staples s straddled thereacross and guide-plates T atthe sides and top of the core for holding the staples in place thereon.

A head 8 at the forward end-of the arm 3 ini I turned to first position automatically by a coilspring It in the head 8. .The staple-applying mechanism also includes a staple-supporter H for retaining each staple s in the throat until it,

is completely driven. The staples s are advanced along the core 6 by a staple-pusher. l5 operatedby a spring l8 to position the foremost staple in the throat l2 beneath the end of the driver 13. -.The arm 3 is normally yieldingly be manually depressed and the driver is re- I held in raised position by a spring-pressed plunger l9 in the base 2 to permit the work to be inserted between the staple-applying mechanism in the head 8 and the clinching means 4 on the base 2. As thus far described the implement is substantially identical in structure with that illustrated and described in the Maynardpatent referred to above.

The present invention relates particularly to a means for adjusting the staple-applying means in alinement with the clinching means. In the embodiments of the invention as herein shown the adjusting means is adapted to move the arm 3 on the base 2 to aline the throat l2 and stapledriver l3 with the clinching means 4 to correct manufacturing inaccuracies. In wire-stitching machines and implements for setting staples in the Work it is necessary that the driver and the throat through which the staples are driven be in accurate register or alinement with the clinching means. After the stapling-applying mechanism has been assembled on its support, in the present instance on the base of the implement, it sometimes occurs that the throat and driver do not accurately aline with the clinching means in the base due to manufacturing inaccuracies. Unless the error is corrected the legs of the staple will not properly engage the clinching means, thereby resulting in improper or faulty clinching of the legs of the staple. In some types of implements the clinching means is in the form of an anvil which may be adjusted on the base as illustrated and described in the pending application of John F. C'avanagh, Serial No. 164,179 filed September 16, 1937. In the type of implement illustrated in Fig. 1 of the present drawings, however, the clinching means 4 is built into the base 2 so that it is relatively fixed or stationary and cannot be moved to effect its adjustment. The present invention provides for adjusting the arm 3 with respect to its support on the base 2 to accomplish the desired result.

As illustrated in the drawings, the arm 3 has a transverse aperture 25 adjacent its rearward end below the core 6 which extends longitudinally within the sides of the arm. As shown most clearly in-Fig. 1, the aperture 25 is in the form of a slot'or of substantially elliptical form with its major axis extending longitudinally of the arm. The rearward end of the arm 3 is positioned between the spaced ears 5 on the base 2 and is rockably mounted on a pivot-pin 26 extending through the aperture 25 with its ends journaled in bearing apertures 24 in the ears. Because of the slotted form of the aperture 25 the arm 3 has a sliding connection with the pivotpin 26 to adapt the arm for adjustment with respect-to the pivot-pin. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 the means for adjusting the arm 3 takes the form of set-screws 2"! and 28 which extend downwardly through the core '6 or transversely of the arm and are pro- .videdwith conically tapered ends 29 and 30. The sides of the tapered ends 29 and 30 are adapted .to bear against the pivot-pin 26 on opposite sides thereof to clamp the arm 3 in adjusted position with respect to the pivot-pin. The arm 3 and pivot-pin 26 are thus adapted to rock as a unit with the extended ends of the pin turning in the bearing apertures 24 in the ears 5. By backing out the forward screw 21 and screwing down the rearward screw 28 the tapered end 30 of the latter will act as a wedge to cause the arm 3 to be moved rearwardly withrespect to the pivotpin26, the. slotted aperture 25 permitting relative movement of the arm and pin. Conversely, by backing out the screw 28 and screwing down on the screw 21 its tapered end 29 will wedge the arm 3 forwardly. In either case when the screws 21 and 28 are tightened their tapered ends 29 and 30 will engage the pivot-pin 26 at its opposite sides and clamp it against the bottom of the aperture or slot 25. g

In the manufacture of the implement the parts of the base 2 and arm 3 are assembled separately to form complete units. The arm 3 is then mounted on the base 2 by positioning its rearward end between the ears 5 and inserting the pivot-pin 26 through the alined bearing apertures 24 and the slot 25. Due to the slotted form of the aperture 25 the arm will have a limited longitudinal movement with respect to the pivot-pin 26 to permit it to be adjusted to aline the stapledriver l3 with the clinching means 4. To this end the arm 3 is rocked on the pivot-pin 26 against the action of the spring-pressed plunger l9 and. moved longitudinally by screwing down one or the other of the screws 21 and 28 until the throat l2 accuratelyalines with the clinching means 4. The screws 21 and 28 are then tightened into binding engagement with the pivot-pin 26 to clamp the arm 3 in fixed position with respect to the pin. After the magazine is loaded with a supply of staples s the implement is operated in the usual manner by rocking the arm 3 about the axis of the pivot-pin 26 to engage the head 8 with the work to be stapled and thereafter depressing the-driver 13 to drive a staple 8 through the throat l2. As the staple is driven its legs penetrate through the work and engage the clinching means 4 which operate to bend the legs over to clinch them against the under side of the work.

' When the implement is intended for use with certain types of work relatively narrow staples are provided. The core 6 for supporting such staples is correspondingly narrow as illustrated in Fig. 4 so that it will not permit the insertion of set-screws therethrough in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. Consequently, a modified form of adjusting means is provided as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings. In this modified form of construction of the invention the adjustable abutments are movable longitudinally of the arm 3 below the core 6. As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the rearward abutment is in the form of a set-screw 35 threaded into a tapped bore 36 in the arm 3 below the narrow portion of the core 6. The forward abutment at the opposite side of the pivot-pin 26 is in the form of a plunger 31 slidable in a longitudinal bore 38 in the arm 3. The plunger 31 is moved rearwardly into binding engagement with the forward side of the pivot-pin 26 by means of a setscrew 39 threaded into a bore 49 in the side of the arm 3. The set-screw 39 has a tapered end 4| which engages the rounded forward end of the plunger 31 and acts as a wedge or cam to move the plunger rearwardly. Thus, by backing out one of the screws and tightening the opposite screw the arm 3 may be shifted longitudinally with respect to the pivot-pin 26 and base 2 to aline the staple-driver l3 with the clinching means 4.

The stapling arm 3 is assembled on the base 2 in the manner as explained with respect to the first-described form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, and the set-screws 35 and 39 are manipulated to move the arm 3 with respect to the base 2 to correct manufacturing inaccuracies and aline the staple-driver 13 with the clinching means 4.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a novel form of adjusting means for regulating the position of the staple-applying means in relation to the clinching means when the parts are assembled and then clamping the parts in adjusted relationship. It will further be observed that the adjusting means are of simple and compact construction and adapted to be quickly and easily manipulated to effect a minute and accurate adjustment of the parts.

While I have herein shown and described two embodiments of the adjusting means, it will be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the device and its application to use without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the adjusting screws may be incorporated in the upstanding ears on the base of the implement for shifting the pivot-pin in elongated apertures or slots formed in the ears instead of adjusting the arm with respect to the pivot-pin. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim 1. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a base, clinching means on the base, a member movable toward and away from said base, staple-applying mechanism carried by said member, a pivot-pin connecting the movable member to the base, and adjusting screws engaging the pivot-pin at its opposite sides for adjusting the movable member with respect to the base to aline the staple-applying mechanism with the clinching means.

2. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of clinching means, a member movable toward and away from the clinching means, staple-applying mechanism carried by said member, a pivot-pin for mounting the movable member, said movable member having a sliding connection with the pivot-pin, and screw-means on the movable member at opposite sides of the pivot-pin for clamping the member in position on the pivot-pin, said screw-means being adapted to adjust the movable member with respect to the pivot-pin to aline the staple-applying mechanism with the clinching means.

3. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of clinching means, a stapling arm movable toward and away from the clinching means, staple-applying mechanism carried by said stapling arm, a pivot-pin for mounting the stapling arm, and a pair of screws on the stapling arm having tapered ends engaging the opposite sides of the pivot-pin to clamp the arm in position on the pivot-pin, said screws being adapted to be turned to adjust the position of the stapling arm to aline the staple-applying mechanism with the clinching means.

4. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of fixed clinching means, a stapling arm having a longitudinally-extending core for holding a supply of staples thereon, staple-applying mechanism on said stapling arm, a pivot-pin for mounting the stapling arm, said arm having a sliding connection with the pivot-pin, and a pair of screws extending through the core and having tapered ends engaging the opposite sides of the pivot-pin to clamp the arm in fixed position on the pivot-pin, said screws being rotatable to adjust the position of the stapling arm to aline the staple-applying mechanism with the clinching means.

15. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of clinching means, a stapling arm for holding a supply of staples, staple-applying mechanism carried by said arm opposite'the clinching means, a pivot-pin for mounting the stapling arm, said arm having a slidable connection with the pivot-pin, adjustable abutments extending longitudinally of the stapling arm for engaging the pivot-pin on opposite sides thereof, and means for moving said adjustable abutments longitudinally of the arm to alter the position of the stapling arm on the pivot-pin to aline the staple-applying mechanism with the clinching means.

6. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of clinching means, a stapling arm for holding a sup-ply of staples, staple-applying mechanism carried by said arm opposite the clinching means, a pivot-pin for mounting the stapling arm, said stapling arm having a sliding connection with the pivot-pin, a plunger at one side of the Divot-pin, a screw in the arm having a conical end engageable with the plunger to move the latter longitudinally of the stapling arm, and a screw extending longitudinally of the arm and engageable with the opposite side of the pivot-pin for clamping it against the end of the plunger, said screws being adapted to adjust the position of the stapling arm to aline the stapleapplying mechanism with the clinching means.

7. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of clinching means, a member movable toward and away from the clinching means, staple-applying mechanism carried by said member, a pin for pivotally mounting the movable member, and abutments in engagement with the opposite sides of the pin to clamp the latter in adjusted position, said abutments being separately adjustable to effect relative movement between the member and the clinching means to aline the stapling mechanism therewith.

LEONARD D. LAWRENCE. 

